Full-Time

Supply Chain Director

Kinder's

Kinder's

Consumer-packaged BBQ sauces and seasonings brand

Compensation Overview

$215k - $240k/yr

+ Bonus Eligibility + Equity Grants

Walnut Creek, CA, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role: 4 days in-office per week; Fridays flex (office or work from home).

Category
Operations & Logistics
Required Skills
Inventory Management
SAP Products
Anaplan
Databricks
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, operations, or a related field (MBA preferred).
  • 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain management, with a strong focus on collaborative planning, Supply Chain Optimization, Demand Planning, and Integrated Business Planning (IBP)/Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).
  • Strong leadership and cross-functional orchestration skills, with the ability to inspire a team of Operations, Planning, Supply Chain Data Scientists, Process Architects, and Supply Chain partners in Commercial, Finance and Research & Development; manage cross-functional business process reengineering projects.
  • Expertise in supply chain planning software (e.g., Blue Yonder, SAP IBP, Kinaxis, Anaplan), advanced analytics, Databricks, AI integrations, and Control Tower technologies.
  • Proven experience in managing supply chains within fast-growing companies or dynamic environments.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and manage change in a rapidly evolving environment.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
Responsibilities
  • Champion a 'Fail Forward' mindset that encourages learning from setbacks and fosters a culture of continuous improvement, in line with Kinder's values of Humility and Curiosity.
  • Act as a 'Re-Imaginer' to develop and execute strategic supply chain initiatives aligned with the company's fast-growth and non-linear growth trajectory.
  • Promote a Builder Mindset that balances long-term vision with immediate needs, fostering an environment of Collaboration, accountability, and continuous growth.
  • Promote a servant leadership approach, collaborating closely with C-suite executives and cross-functional leaders to integrate supply chain initiatives into the broader business strategy.
  • Lead the expansion and formalization of the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and S&OP processes, including comprehensive metrics packages, Product Reviews for New Product Development (NPD), Demand Pre-meetings (Sales Consensus), and Integrated Reconciliation forums.
  • Develop an NPD and new line planning architecture that supports a hypergrowth IBP process tailored to execute against a flexible Opportunity Pipeline.
  • Drive Demand Planning and Commercial Collaborative Planning by formalizing the integration of Trade Fund Management (TFM) and promotional lift causal factor models into tactical supply planning.
  • Invest in advanced analytics to improve demand sensing, demand shaping, and new product launch acceleration to optimize availability and reduce lost sales at the customer and consumer level.
  • Drive the design, implementation, and adoption of new supply chain capabilities.
  • Lead the adoption of Agentic AI, Autonomous SC models, and 'Human + Machine / Human in the loop' workflows across the supply chain network.
  • Direct the strategic use of the Supply Chain Digital Twin (SCDT) for critical raw materials, running probabilistic scenario modeling to evaluate Total Landed Cost (TLC) and lead-time volatility for new category launches.
  • Ensure a seamless handover process by transitioning validated models, platforms, and new capabilities to the SC Ops team for daily execution and Continuous Improvement (CI).
  • Foster an inclusive atmosphere where cross-functional teams are empowered to contribute, building solutions collaboratively rather than operating in silos.
  • Collaborate deeply with procurement, production, inventory management, and distribution teams, fostering an environment of shared ownership and mutual respect that reflects our commitment to Humility and Collaboration
  • Monitor supply chain KPIs and inventory metrics to track performance, identify risks, and implement corrective actions where needed, driving a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Lead initiatives to optimize processes, reduce costs, and improve service levels while encouraging a mindset that sees obstacles as creative opportunities for Innovation
  • Partner heavily with SC Technology and Data Architecture to utilize Databricks and connected demand and supply data across the network.
  • Actively seek out and implement innovative solutions, continually resetting the standard for supply chain efficiency while embodying Kinder's relentless drive for Results and passion for Innovation.
  • Proactively identify and mitigate risks through predictive "What-If" stress testing, ensuring business continuity through planning and contingency strategies that prioritize long-term success.
  • Optimize the management of supply chain master data, including SKU and contract manufacturing attributes, in partnership with Finance, Contract Manufacturing, and Supply Chain leadership.
  • Optimize strategies for optimizing retail fulfillment of secondary placements, such as PDQs (Pre-Distributed Quantities), DRUs (Display Ready Units), and pallet programs.
  • Optimize rapid response on these programs by implementing Make-To-Order (MTO) and Make-To-Stock (MTS) approaches for work-in-progress (WIP) items to ensure efficient supply chain responsiveness.
  • Optimize Policy and Process Adoption with contract manufacturers and suppliers, ensuring reliable sourcing of materials and services at the best quality and cost.
  • Optimize supplier performance, implement contingency plans to manage risk, and uphold Integrity by prioritizing long-term success over short-term gains.
  • Collaborate and integrate with warehouse and logistics partners to ensure improved customer satisfaction through efficient inventory deployment.

Kinder's makes barbecue sauces, seasonings, rubs, and marinades for consumers and operates California deli/butcher shops plus nationally distributed packaged foods. Its products are sold in major retailers, building the brand since 1946 after the 1988 recipe helped it scale. It differentiates itself through a long family heritage paired with a dual business model of local restaurants and broad CPG distribution, now backed by Kaulig Capital. Its goal is to grow the brand and expand distribution while keeping its family-owned roots.

Company Size

N/A

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

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Founded

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Gold Label Hot Honey Glaze taps Walmart demand at $5.98 per 16.1 oz bottle.
  • New flavors like Sweet Honey and Cherry Brown Sugar expand grilling options.
  • Garlic Parm & BBQ Bombs recipe inspires home cooks with sweet flavorful results.

What critics are saying

  • McCormick Grill Mates erodes 3rd seasoning rank via Walmart Costco pricing in 6-12 months.
  • Costco Kirkland private label overtakes 6th BBQ sauce rank in 3-6 months.
  • California AB 1287 mandates wood-smoke disclosure sparking 40% deli sales drop in 6-9 months.

What makes Kinder's unique

  • Paula Kinder developed Original BBQ Sauce recipe in 1988 as base for all flavors.
  • The Blend organic rub leads sales as Grandpa's Original salt-pepper-garlic seasoning.
  • Dual model blends California delis with nationwide CPG in Walmart and Costco.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Paid Vacation

Parental Leave

Company Equity

Performance Bonus